Well-known billionaire planning further alterations to historic Waterford estate

The restoration works at Ballynatray House in west Waterford continue to advance, with additional works now planned.

The estate has undergone significant work since coming under the ownership last year of vacuum cleaner magnate, James Dyson, for a reported €30 million.

A planning application submitted last October made provisions for a helicopter landing area to be constructed on the estate grounds, whilst planning documents, which were approved in July 2024, included rebuilding stone chimneys, removal of a non-historic external staircase and replacement of non-historic windows with new sash windows.

Multiple gatehouses will also be restored and the estate’s west barn will be converted to an energy centre.

Also previously approved was the demolition of an existing 1980s single-storey west extension at basement floor and the construction of a new single-storey extension.

The most recent planning application, submitted this week, made provision for the demolition of an existing internal stair from the 1990s and the construction of new internal lift and stair.

The premises is an 18th-century classical-style house with an associated farm complex and is listed in the current Record of Protected Structures and by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

The house sits on an 850-acre estate and was seen last year almost entirely enclosed in scaffolding and screening as restoration works advanced.

The house was also extensively worked on in the late 1990s.